In recent years, the manufacturing industry has undergone a major shift in its approach toward production. The implementation of IoT (Internet of Things) solutions have revolutionized the way factories operate and has brought about numerous benefits to the manufacturing process. In this article, we will discuss the top 10 benefits of IoT solutions in the manufacturing industry.

Benefits of IoT Solutions in Manufacturing Industry

1. Enhanced Productivity

IoT solutions have greatly improved the productivity of manufacturing facilities. Connected devices and sensors work together to streamline the manufacturing process, reducing the time it takes to produce a product. IoT technology allows manufacturers to monitor and optimize their production lines, leading to more efficient and effective operations.

2. Predictive Maintenance

IoT solutions allow manufacturers to monitor their equipment and machinery in real time. This real-time data can be used to predict when equipment will fail and prevent downtime. Predictive maintenance reduces the costs associated with unplanned downtime and maintenance, ultimately improving the bottom line of the manufacturing facility.

3. Improved Quality Control

IoT solutions enable manufacturers to monitor the quality of their products throughout the production process. This helps to identify potential issues early on, reducing the number of defective products that reach the end consumer. Improved quality control leads to increased customer satisfaction and reduced costs associated with returns and warranty claims.

4. Increased Safety

IoT solutions can improve the safety of workers in manufacturing facilities. Connected sensors and devices can monitor the work environment and identify potential hazards. This data can be used to implement safety protocols and prevent accidents from occurring.

5. Supply Chain Optimization

IoT solutions enable manufacturers to track their inventory and supply chain in real time. This allows for better supply chain optimization, reducing costs associated with excess inventory and stockouts. Real-time inventory tracking also enables manufacturers to respond quickly to changes in demand, reducing lead times and improving customer satisfaction.

6. Energy Efficiency

IoT solutions can help manufacturing facilities reduce their energy consumption. Connected sensors can monitor energy usage in real-time, identifying areas where energy is being wasted. This data can be used to implement energy-saving measures, reducing energy costs and improving the environmental impact of the facility.

7. Improved Communication

IoT solutions can improve communication between different departments within the manufacturing facility. Connected devices and sensors can share data in real-time, allowing for better collaboration and coordination. Improved communication leads to more efficient operations and better decision-making.

8. Increased Flexibility

IoT solutions can improve the flexibility of manufacturing facilities. Connected devices and sensors can be used to reconfigure production lines quickly, allowing for rapid changes in production. This leads to more responsive manufacturing operations and the ability to quickly adapt to changing market conditions.

9. Cost Reduction

IoT solutions can help manufacturing facilities reduce their costs. By improving productivity, reducing downtime, improving quality control, and optimizing the supply chain, IoT solutions can have a significant impact on the bottom line of the facility. This ultimately leads to improved profitability and a stronger competitive position.

10. Competitive Advantage

IoT solutions can provide manufacturing facilities with a competitive advantage. By implementing cutting-edge technology, manufacturers can differentiate themselves from their competitors and offer unique value propositions to their customers. This can help to attract new customers and retain existing ones.

Statistics of IoT Solutions in Manufacturing Industry

As these statistics demonstrate, IoT solutions are becoming increasingly prevalent in the manufacturing industry, with significant growth expected in the coming years. The most common use cases for IoT in manufacturing are centered around improving efficiency, reducing downtime, and optimizing supply chains. With such a large potential market size, it's no surprise that more and more manufacturers are investing in IoT technologies to drive innovation and stay competitive.

Final Words

The implementation of IoT solutions in the manufacturing industry brings about numerous benefits, including enhanced productivity, predictive maintenance, improved quality control, increased safety, supply chain optimization, energy efficiency, improved communication, increased flexibility, cost reduction, and competitive advantage. By leveraging IoT technology, manufacturers can improve their operations and ultimately improve their bottom line.

Keeping your fulfillment process steady is made easier with the use of technology for effective business solutions. Get in touch with Aeologic Technologies right away to see how it can benefit your company.

FAQs

How does IoT technology improve productivity in the manufacturing industry?

IoT technology allows for real-time monitoring and optimization of production lines, reducing the time it takes to produce a product and improving overall efficiency.

How does predictive maintenance work with IoT solutions?

Connected sensors and devices monitor equipment and machinery in real-time, collecting data that can be used to predict when maintenance is needed before equipment fails, reducing the costs associated with unplanned downtime and maintenance.

Technologies like blockchain, IoT, AR, VR, and AI are playing a big role in transforming the gambling industry. They are changing the way of gambling and players all around the world are liking this innovative approach. 

The Internet of things has added a lot of attraction to casinos because with the help of IoT, offering gambling according to the regulation, to ensure players' safety, secure their assets, data security, and excellent player gaming experience becomes so much easier. Not only the gambling industry but also other various industries have adopted it and collaborating with AI, Crypto, and blockchain gives a new shape to the casino world. According to the study, it is expected more than 41 billion IoT devices will be used by 2027. All digital devices such as smartphones, PCs, digital watches, cameras, and other smart gadgets are examples of IoT.

In this article, we are going to discuss how blockchain and IoT are bringing fruitful results in the gambling industry. And why the demand for blockchain development services is so high in the market.

IoT Basics:

IoT is a network of physical objects that are connected with each other by sensors, software, and other technologies to connect and exchange data in a secure and smooth way over the Internet. IoT is defining the gaming industry with positive and fruitful way. 

Before diving in-depth, let’s know about blockchain and IoT.

Blockchain Basics

The main objective of blockchain is to record data in the form of blocks and all blocks are linked together in a chain. That means blockchain is an immutable ledger where all records are saved but cannot be changed, deleted, or destroyed. 

Basically, it is an advanced database mechanism that offers you high security and transparency. There are four types of blockchains:

• Public blockchain
• Private blockchain
• Hybrid blockchain
• Consortium Blockchain

Lets’ know the positive aspects of Blockchain and IoT in gambling business Industry.

Benefits of Blockchain in Gambling Industry

Here are the reasons for the popularity of blockchain and IoT in gambling world and most games and service providers and online casinos are using both technologies in order to create a difference. 

• High Security
  

Blockchain offers you high-end security and when you make any transaction using cryptocurrencies then it will automatically be added to the distributed ledger and will automatically be added in the whole blocks and entry of new coins is added in the blockchain. 

Blockchain in the casino is offering high security to both players and owners. With its help, there is no need to do registration at casinos and there is no need to validate yourself, and no credit card information is required there. You can do all without sharing your personal data and no one regulates you due to the absence of central authorities.

• Anonymity
  

As we all know that according to a specific location, there are certain rules to regulate online casino business and as a user, you have to follow these rules. But with the help of blockchain, you can enjoy any casino all over the world and you can make payments without facing any issues and no one will know your identity. Cryptocurrency and blockchain are not regulated by any central authority and you can earn huge profits by accessing all casinos all over the world and crypto can be used for payment. 

At present, privacy is everything and you can gamble and make transactions without being noticed by anyone because no one can track you here and you have no need to share your personal information.

• Instant and Cost-effective

Blockchain makes it possible to do fast and instant transactions. As we all know that crypto is based on blockchain and not regulated by a central authority so it means there are no mediators and you can make your transaction in a faster way. And cost-effectiveness is another reason that is making it more popular and it charges less than credit cards, debit cards and traditional platforms. 

• Transparency, Efficiency, and Access
  

When you integrate blockchain in the online gambling industry, then you get transparency and no one can make fraud with you. Like you cannot trust traditional casinos, and online platforms for reliable betting services but on blockchain oriented casinos you can. Because here blockchain maintains all records that are impossible to manipulate. 

You can also enjoy casino games without registration because it uses only your wallet address so it becomes quite easy to access and platform efficiency also improves. 

• Smart chips
  

In online casinos, there is a huge amount of data and managing that is quite a tedious task and thanks to IoT that has made it quite easy and user-friendly. With the help of RFID microchips, all illegal activities have become so minimal. RFID microprocessors have made it possible to take care of all aspects of online casinos.

So, we can say that IoT has increased the security of casinos and now players can enjoy gambling services in an easy way. 

Final Word

This article helps you to know all about the IoT and Blockchain and how they are bringing positive changes in the online casino world and gambling industry. After reading this article, we can say that now players and bettors can enjoy online gambling in an effective way without facing any issues. Now they are paying full attention to gambling without caring about extra issues. You can also invest in the gambling business with the help of a sports betting developmet company.

IoT (Internet of Things) in today’s era is one of the most significant technologies having dynamic applications across every industry. Its advanced connectivity and ability to gather and process data in real-time makes it beneficial for all sectors. The automotive industry, too, leverages this tremendous technology to make itself more advanced. 

The days of gasoline fuel vehicles and stations being obsolete are not far away now. Many countries worldwide have begun their journey to facilitate a fully electric vehicle system, while others are catching up with them. One of the major purposes of IoT in EV systems is the development of robust charging infrastructure. The ability to remotely manage the charging stations is a big challenge that IoT systems seamlessly handle. 

So in this blog, we will discuss the role and uses of IoT in EV systems and how it is changing the automotive dynamics for the future. Let us start!

Overview: IoT in EV Charging

IoT is fundamentally a convergence of IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology). The OT focuses more on devices and sensors established in the system. At the same time, IT deals with the digital transformation aspects of the system. 

In the EV charging station landscape, the system is connected to multiple IoT devices integrated with several third-party service providers like e-MSPs, energy suppliers, and charge point operators. 

The devices established in the charging system utilize a back-end cloud infrastructure that is run through different protocols & connectivity options to ensure seamless charging operations. 

The major services carried out at an EV station are

• Processing payments 
• Scheduling
• Software updates
• Predictive maintenance
• Usage analytics

IoT in an EV charging system consists of three major elements:

1. Charging Equipment

It is a hardware unit established at a charging station that provides a physical connection between the power grid and the EV. The unit comprises different connectivity options, power electronics, charging protocols, and sensors. All these devices perform operations like 

• Engagement and disengagement of the port 
• Start and stop the process of charging
• Energy Metering
• Fault Detection
• Health Status

2. Mobile App

The next most important element of IoT in the EV charging system is a web-based smartphone app. The app is responsible for connecting The EV charging network to the EV owners. Some of the major operations include

• User Authentication
• Navigating A Charging Network
• Charger Onboarding
• Scheduled Charging
• Slot Reservation
• Billing, And Payments

3. Management Platform

It is a cloud-based platform that aims to gather data from IoT Sensors and devices to perform data analytics. It consists of operations such as

• Load Balancing
• Remote Monitoring
• Configurations Management
• Firmware Upgrades
• Alerts and Notifications

IoT in the EV charging system enables continuous monitoring of operations and gathering of data to present it in reports & dashboards. Also, it can be leveraged to notify users during critical failures. 

IoT is a great technology for EV automobiles and charging stations as most of its failures can be troubleshot effortlessly with remote operations. Hence, IoT is unquestionably the next big technology in the automotive sector. 

The Four Pillars of IoT in Electric Vehicle Management System

The IoT Electric vehicle management system consists of four aspects on which it majorly works:

Battery Management System

As EVs are powered with batteries, so the primary role of the battery management system is to monitor and manage the battery processes. It includes charging, discharging, and checking key parameters like voltage, current, and temperature while charging operations. 

IoT enables the battery system to be controlled and fixed remotely when required. Besides, the battery system continuously sends data to the servers to generate insights on the next course of action to enhance performance. 

Safety and Smart Driving

Providing higher safety to passengers commuting in a vehicle is an important element of using IoT in automobiles. IoT sensors and devices planted inside the EVs provide features like

• Theft prevention through real-time tracking, immobilization, and geo-fencing.
• It consistently monitors the performance of vehicles based on different attributes like driving conditions, geography, weather, etc. The accumulated data helps in making the system more efficient. 
• The IoT devices established in vehicles also capture the car parameters like speed and acceleration and accordingly provide ti[ps in real-time. 

Preventive Maintenance System

Though EVs are designed with care, there can be incidents of component failures. Therefore, there are IoT-based fault alert systems installed in the system that notifies the driver about the failing component. 

It helps them to analyze the situation and act accordingly. As the issue gets addressed ahead of time, the driver gets time to prevent a breakdown. In addition, the problem can be fixed remotely in certain conditions. It enhances the customer experience and provides higher vehicle reliability to the user. 

Telematics Data

IoT is important and is used widely in different sectors today due to its ability to collect data for improved operations. In the automotive industry, data is gathered when connected to vehicle sensors. This accumulated data can be displayed via widgets and used to generate automatic reports. Some of the most beneficial factors of using telematics for EVs are:

• It provides the details of battery usage data. 
• It generates a charging report for every charging session.
• It monitors and provides insights on driver behavior data. 
• It alerts users with nearby charging station alerts. 

How Does IoT Transform the EV Charging Experience?

Here are some crucial benefits and use cases of IoT in EV charging:

1. User Authentication

The customer uses an RFID card/tag to access the charging machine. As soon as they tap their tag, the charging station transmits the data to the IoT platform. The IoT platform then checks the user profile and performs an authentication process to ensure secure and safe billing. 

       2. Charger Availability

The IoT sensors and devices deployed inside your car notify you about the nearby available charging stations. In addition, you can utilize the smartphone app to reserve a slot and check the rates of the charging service for different times.  

      3. Automated Operations

IoT has powered the charging stations to work automatically without any user help. Besides, the system notifies the users about the left charging time, due payments, and any charging errors.   

      4. Smart Charging

Due to the availability of IoT sensors, charging stations can work more smartly. When there is abundant sunlight and energy production, the chargers automatically start charging, which invariably helps grid operators to manage energy more efficiently.

     5. Remote Management

The IoT devices installed in the system generate real-time metrics & insights. The metrics may include charger availability, utilization, and fault monitoring. It helps in fixing the issues remotely when required. Further, it helps in predictive maintenance and minimizing operational downtime. 

     6. EVSE Control

There are several sensory nodes through which the IoT platform collects information. The data may include energy tariffs, grid limit, EV battery capacity, and state of charge. Information on these metrics helps manage the EV charging infrastructure and deliver better service. 

     7. Support and Management

IoT enables EV charging stations to become smarter, connected, and accessible for everyone. Besides, it presents crucial information such as charging time, charging queues, weather conditions, etc., that aids in a better support system for the users.

     8. Data Collection and Analysis

Advanced cloud solutions powered by IoT significantly help in data collection and enable users, service providers, and maintenance workers to optimize their work more efficiently. 

     9. Geo-Dashboard

Geo dashboard is an impressive feature of the EV charging module where the user is informed about the nearby charging stations to schedule their trip more effectively. 

Should You Invest in IoT EV Charging Solutions?

EVs are the future of automobiles and will get mainstream in the next couple of years around the globe. Hence, building refined EV charging solutions now can earn you a monopoly in this service industry. So if you wish to build your own IoT-based EV charging solution, get in touch with our Intuz expert team. Intuz is a leading IoT development company who have built impressive and unique IoT solutions for different market verticals. You, too, incorporate with them to build your next IoT solution.    

The Internet of Things is changing the way we consume and interact with things in our everyday lives. IoT gives objects digital identity. This means that they can be monitored, controlled, and synced with other devices wirelessly. The article looks at how the IoT will affect the electric vehicle industry in the future.

Let's begin!

Table of contents

• How will the IoT affect the Electric Vehicle Industry?
• What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the IoT in the EV industry?
• What Industries Have Benefited from the IoT?
• Final Thought

How will the IoT affect the Electric Vehicle Industry?

The IoT has the potential to change the way we interact with the world around us, and it is already having an impact on the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

One way that the IoT is affecting EVs is by making it possible for cars to communicate with each other and with infrastructures, such as traffic lights and parking spaces. This communication can make driving more efficient and safer. For example, if two connected cars are approaching an intersection at the same time, they can communicate with each other to decide who has the right of way. This eliminates the need for one car to stop and wait for the other to pass.

Another way that the IoT is impacting EVs is by providing data that can be used to improve the efficiency of charging stations. Connected chargers can communicate with each other and with EV batteries to optimize charging times and reduce congestion at charging stations. This data can also be used to help plan future charging infrastructure.

The IoT also has the potential to change how we think about ownership of EVs. In a traditional ownership model, a person buys a car and then pays for its maintenance, fuel, and insurance. With an IoT-enabled EV, it would be possible for someone else to own the vehicle and provide these services as part of a subscription service. This could make EVs more affordable.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the IoT in the EV industry?

As the electric vehicle industry continues to grow, so too does the role of the IoT. The advantages of the IoT in the EV industry include increased efficiency and accuracy in data collection, improved safety and security, and enhanced customer experience. Meanwhile, some of the disadvantages of the IoT in the EV industry include potential privacy concerns and data breaches, as well as the need for a reliable and secure network infrastructure.

The Advantages of the IoT in the EV industry

• It makes it easier for you to control your car's climate and other functions remotely while you're not in it.
• You can use an app on your phone or laptop to control things like lights, power windows, etc., even if they're not connected directly to your vehicle's system (like a garage door opener). You could also use this tech for home automation systems like Nest or Harmony which allow you to control all kinds of things from anywhere in your house.
• You can share information about where you parked your car with friends who might need help finding it later on or help them find it.

The Disadvantages of the IoT in the EV industry

The IoT is a great way to increase your EV industry's efficiency and success, but it can also be difficult to implement. Here are some disadvantages of using the IoT in the EV industry:

• The cost of implementation is high. This may be because there are many different types of devices that need to be connected, and each requires different types of software and hardware.
• The amount of data that needs to be collected can be overwhelming for some businesses, especially if they don't have experience with big data collection or storage systems.
• There are many different types of devices that need to be connected some may not work together well or may require additional programming. So it can take time and money before you're able to see any benefits from your investment in the IoT system.

What Industries Have Benefited from the IoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) has had a significant impact on the automobile sector. One of the most major developments has been in the manufacturing of cars. The introduction of sensors and other linked devices has enabled manufacturers to collect data on how cars are used, leading to changes in the production process. As a result, automobiles are of higher quality and more efficient.

Another area where IoT technology is making a difference in car safety is. Automakers can discover possible safety hazards and solve them by gathering data from sensors and other linked systems. As a result, automobiles are safer and there are fewer accidents.

Finally, IoT technology is transforming how customers engage with their automobiles. Customers are increasingly utilizing their cell phones and other linked devices to manage their automobiles.

Everything from starting the engine to opening the doors and controlling the temperature control is covered. As this trend continues, it is probable that even more capabilities that allow consumers to operate their automobiles in novel ways will be added.

Final Thought

The IoT will play a major role in the electric vehicle industry by providing real-time data that can be used to improve the efficiency of production and distribution. In addition, the IoT can also be used to monitor the performance of electric vehicles and provide feedback to drivers in order to help them optimize their routes and usage. Ultimately, the goal is to make electric vehicles more efficient, reliable, and affordable for everyone.

The advent of the internet of things on Metaverse is expected to change its overall market outlook in the future. The IoT Includes a plethora of features which, in turn, will highly benefit the Metaverse Market in the upcoming years. With a growth rate of 38.25 per cent CAGR, the metaverse market size was estimated to be worth USD 124.04 billion in 2022 and USD 1655.29 billion in 2030.

The IoT, which was first launched in 1999, links hundreds of devices, including thermostats, voice-activated speakers, and medical equipment, to a variety of data. IoT is now poised to revolutionize the Metaverse as it effortlessly connects the 3D environment to a wide range of physical objects. One of the renowned & largest private software firms in the UK, IRIS Software Group, offers software solutions and services that significantly improve operational compliance, efficiency, and accuracy.

The identity environment will expand enormously as the Metaverse takes traction and new applications and access points emerge alongside it, creating additional entry points for potential bad market players. Already, 84% of corporate executives concur that their company now manages significantly more digital identities than it did ten years ago (up to 10x). Additionally, 95% of firms say they have trouble keeping track of all the identities that are currently a part of their organization (human and machine). We have a perfect storm of rising complexity and expanding threat vectors that may be exploited, which can lead to breaches, business disruption, and material expenses when we add in the Metaverse and the rise in IoT usage that will accompany it.

Top features of IoT:

 a.) A 360-degree enhanced and real-world training: 

Using the IoT, we are able to develop and test training methods in situations where we are unable to do so in the real world due to the scope and authenticity of training on extreme real-world situations (such as severe weather or cyber events) that can be done through virtual simulations using digital twins in the Metaverse. Io Train-sim will aid in preparing people and AI/software to cooperate to better recognize issues and lessen the impact in real life as virtual metaverse environments develop to more closely resemble reality.

b.) Smarter and better long-term planning along with its near-term response: 

The metaverse system will increasingly closely resemble our real world as it fills up with digital duplicates of real-world objects (such as cars, buildings, factories, and people). We will be able to run different long-term planning scenarios, identify the most optimal designs for our energy, transportation, and healthcare systems, and dynamically operate these techniques as the real world evolves thanks to this system-of-systems complicated virtual simulation (e.g., more renewable sources, new diseases, population migrations or demographic changes). These simulations will assist teams of humans in responding to current events and solving an issue utilizing monthly, weekly, or day-ahead planning, in addition to long-term planning. AI will then be used to learn from the outcome and enhance the response during the next event.

Conclusion

Brands are utilizing a variety of cutting-edge technologies to fuel the Metaverse with the aim of making the virtual as real-time and authentic as possible. These technologies include AR, VR, Blockchain, AI, and IoT. Sensors, cameras, and wearables are already implemented and in use due to the present IoT development. These gadgets are the engines that make it possible for the Metaverse to reflect the real world in real-time when they are connected to it. A metaverse representation of a physical site, such as Samsung's 837x recreation of its 837 Washington St. experience centre in New York City's Meatpacking District, might, for instance, be updated continuously and in real-time as objects enter and exit the physical location

 The internet-based global digital landscape comprises a plethora of complex software and hardware systems spread on-premise and across the cloud. Also, there are software applications within embedded devices that are connected to the internet a la the Internet of Things (IoT). When we envision the future of the digital world, the IoT, along with other technologies, seems to be the harbinger. It has the potential to usher in a world driven by smart technologies to make lives more convenient and qualitatively superior. According to statistics, the number of IoT devices is likely to surpass 25.4 billion by 2030. Also, the IoT can generate an economic value ranging from $4 - $11 trillion by 2025 (Source: dataprot.net). The data shows how the Internet of Things (IoT) is going to define the digitized future of the world. 

However, notwithstanding the tremendous potential of IoT as a technology to drive the next digital revolution, it offers several challenges as well. IoT testing has become critical given that the success of the IoT ecosystem depends on the seamless functioning of its associated software and hardware systems. Let us discuss the challenges in some detail in the below-mentioned segment: 

Digitalization Challenges with IoT

The Internet of Things QA testing ensures IoT devices function safely and reliably. However, this type of testing has a host of challenges to grapple with, as mentioned below:

Testing in an omnichannel environment: The IoT ecosystem comprises various devices, platforms, and systems spread across on-premise and cloud environments. To ensure effective utilization of such systems, IoT testing should be conducted rigorously. Since IoT devices generate data at high velocity, their veracity needs to be ensured in real-time. However, this can be easier said than done, for the data generated is mostly unstructured. Also, IoT testing services need to test several devices with varying capabilities across platforms. Hence, creating a real IoT environment for testing can be a challenge, for there are many devices that require testing on the platform they operate upon. Besides, there are device upgrades in terms of software and firmware, which need to be considered by IoT device testing solutions for effective test outcomes. Thus, cross testing for IoT devices in an omnichannel environment comprising various versions and platforms can be an uphill task.

Cybersecurity risks: Given that IoT devices generate a large quantum of data (structured and unstructured), they may be vulnerable to hacking. Even so, statistics suggest that around seventy percent of IoT devices have security-related issues. Therefore, such devices should be subjected to rigorous IoT security testing. It involves identifying vulnerabilities in the architecture of devices using IoT penetration testing and fixing them. Testers should focus on checking and verifying the devices’ passwords and authorization policies.

Different protocols of IoT communications: IoT devices follow a range of protocols when it comes to communicating among themselves and with the server. These may include AMPQ, XMPP, CoAP, and MQTT. Besides, various components in an IoT ecosystem can use different protocols for communication. Hence, such components need to be tested over communication protocols to preclude functional and security risks. For instance, when embedded software within devices runs on low memory due to higher loading requests, they balance load requests among components using an IoT gateway. Testing IoT applications can verify the load balance among different components, thereby ensuring their smooth functioning.

Lack of standardization: Creating standards for IoT devices can be a challenge across four levels - application, business model, connectivity, and platform. The lack of a uniform standard across the IoT landscape makes it a difficult case for testers. This is because different companies build devices with competing and often conflicting standards. The common IoT testing approach is based on the intended use of the system or the use case. The best way to wriggle out of the situation is to establish uniform standardization across the above-mentioned levels.

Battery life: A large number of IoT devices are powered by batteries, which need to function at their optimum at all times. To ensure IoT devices are energy efficient, they need to have low-power components. Thus, the battery needs to be tested under different conditions and scenarios to maximize the life of such devices. Also, testers should check whether the device is able to report the low-battery status to the cloud platform properly.

Conclusion

The quality of an IoT ecosystem can only be ensured if the above-mentioned challenges are addressed by stringently testing IoT applications. Business enterprises building and utilizing IoT devices can look at various benefits by implementing stringent IoT testing. These include driving innovation and speeding up risk-free initiatives; facilitating time-to-market; improving interoperability; and achieving a higher ROI.

Over the last few years, layers-3 switching has become quite popular. Though layer-3 switches are costlier than layer-2 or other traditional switches, layer-3 switches are way more beneficial for large companies.

Layer-3 switches not only solve the problems in large companies and networks but, also make IoT apps perform better. I have recently worked on an IOT project and for that project, we used layer-3 switches.

First of all, let's discuss layer-3 switches.

The layer-3 switches are a step ahead of the layer-2 switches. The smartness of these switches is their biggest advantage. When a company is facing a lot of traffic in their network then considering a layer-3 switch can be the right option. The only disadvantage of choosing a layer-3 switch is that they are complicated to set up and require a lot of time. Along with that, a layer-3 switch is costlier than the traditional switch. You need to be an expert in computer networking to configure this type of switch.

A layer-3 switch is a smart switch. Here with a smart switch, we mean that the switch has the ability to take a decision on its own. Instead of sending requests to all the systems connected to LAN, this switch sends requests to just a few systems that are connected to a specified network.

For example, a company network contains different departments like Sales, purchase, marketing, HR, testing, web development, and mobile app development. A layer-2 switch sends requests to all the networks while a layer-3 switch sends the request to just one network and the systems connected to that network. This switch determines for which network a request is sent with the help of the map. Once determined, it sends a request to just one network. This reduces the traffic on the network and increases speed.

Along with these advantages, with the help of the virtual-routing option one can change the hexadecimal number in the MAC address. With the help of this routing scheme, it is easier to convert hex to numbers easily. Hexadecimal to decimal number converter helps a person to read a MAC address in a better way easily.

Why did we use these switches in an IoT project?

We were developing an IoT project for a car garage. At this garage, there were more than 500 cars parked at any time. Our server used to receive more than 100 requests at the same time. Apart from that, the app was running on the Local area network along with the layer-2 switch. At that time, we assumed that the reason behind this might be the server and the switch were not able to handle these many requests at the same time. So, we insisted on the switches. Once they were replaced, our IoT app was working just fine.

So, this was our experience of working on an IOT app that used a layer-3 switch. If you have also worked on such an app then do share your experience here. It would be great for this community to know more about computer networking in detail.

The Internet of Things has grown in popularity over the previous few decades. It has converted robots into lifelike assets, and its influence is expanding by the day. Today, communication gadgets outnumber humans, and they make our lives more convenient and intelligent than ever before. So, if you're thinking of developing an IoT app and want to know how much it will cost, this article is for you.

Furthermore, research forecasts that by 2025, there will be around 21 billion linked gadgets. However, this isn't the only reason that IoT app development is growing in popularity; there are other reasons as well. It emphasizes every aspect of the cost of producing an IoT app.

Market Statistics of IoT App Development

• In the next years, 65 percent of marketers feel that firms that do not have IoT-based apps would fall behind.
• According to Gartner, there will be around 20 billion connected devices in 2020, which will more than quadruple by 2024-25.
• Approximately 95% of decision-makers anticipate their companies to use IoT applications by the end of 2025.
• The base installation for 5G IoT endpoints was 3.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach 49 billion by 2024.
• By 2025, the number of internet-connected devices is expected to reach 28 billion.
• These figures demonstrate the ever-increasing need for high-quality IoT applications, as well as their relevance in driving company development and productivity. So, now that you know why you should go into IoT mobile app development, let's get started.

Most Significant Applications Of IoT By Industry 

• IoT apps For the Retail Sector

IoT apps have a promising future in the retail business. Retailers are investing in IoT solutions, namely to track and manage the supply chain and inventory operations.The need for IoT-powered mobile apps for supply chain management tracking is increasing. Retailers can remotely monitor and measure certain areas of supply chain activities. Such an automated procedure will assure high-level security, lower operating costs, and improve business outcomes.

On the other hand, IoT is rapidly being integrated into the creation of mobile apps to track and manage stocks. Warehouse management or inventory management software based on IoT tracks stock levels digitally, assisting shops in balancing demand and supply and improving sales outcomes.

•  IoT Mobile Apps For Smart Home Automation

One of the key reasons for the increased demand for IoT mobile app development is smart home automation. Sensor-enabled smart home gadgets make people's lives more pleasant, convenient, easy, and intelligent. The incorporation of IoT in mobile apps allows users to operate all compatible smart home gadgets, such as LEDs, cameras, refrigerators, and so on, while on the road.

Here's a popular IoT app that allows users to control smart home devices from afar.

Amazon Alexa is an intelligence program that uses voice commands to operate smart home products. Users may use the Alexa mobile app to control switches, thermostats, and any Alexa-enabled smart electrical home products.

Applications Of IoT Technology For Healthcare Apps Development

IoT technology is quickly becoming a critical component of the healthcare app development market. IoT integration is becoming common in fitness applications, wearables, and other patient monitoring apps.

Yes. The development of IoT-based mobile apps for tracking and monitoring health is a market trend. As a result, the future of IoT mobile apps for smartwatches or wearables seems promising.

Leading enterprise-level software development firms, for example, are already on their way to providing futuristic IoT apps for wearables to measure pulse rate, body temperature, calories burned, sleep quality, steps walked, and so on. This information provided by sensor-equipped wearables is easily accessible via IoT smartphone apps.

What is the typical cost to build an Internet of Things app?

A typical Internet of Things app costs $20,167 to develop. The entire cost, however, might be as little as $5,000 or as high as $35,000. An Internet of Things app with fewer functionalities (also known as a "minimum viable product," or MVP) will be less expensive than an app with all planned capabilities.

For example, these are some current Crowdbotics Internet of Things app price quotes:

$27,500

$23,000

$10,000

However, the cost of IoT mobile app development or solution will be determined by a number of factors, including:

• Types of applications that are long with the complicity
• The cost of IoT app development is determined by the number of developers on your app application development team.
• Depends on how long it takes to design, create, test, and post-develop an IoT app.
• The cost of developing a mobile application varies depending on where you live. As an example:
• South-East Asian custom mobile app development firms would charge between $20 and $40 per hour.
• A mobile app development business in Eastern Europe will charge between $30 and $50.
• The top mobile app development business in India would charge between $50 and $25 per hour.

IoT mobile application development is becoming popular due to the rising demand for IoT-based mobile apps from organizations across sectors. IoT app development has a promising future in areas such as automotive, healthcare, and smart home automation, as well as security.

The Internet of Things is one of the technologies making yesterday’s science fiction the reality of today. It will act as a force multiplier for digitization and can potentially transform the world into a smart one - smart cities, smart vehicles, smart manufacturing, smart homes, and many others. According to IDC, spending on IoT by businesses and other entities is going to reach $1 trillion in 2022. Further, out of the projected connected devices of 29 billion by 2022, around 18 billion are expected to be related to IoT. And the data generated by these devices will be to the tune of 73.1 zettabytes by 2025.

In other words, ignoring the penetration of IoT across domains and not investing in its vast sweep could be detrimental to the competitiveness of business enterprises in the future. Even though the IoT will continue on its upward trajectory in use cases and device numbers, enterprises should take into account the challenges related to interoperability and security. Let us discuss the top IoT predictions that IoT testing services, or for that matter, the CIOs of enterprises, should acknowledge and incorporate in their value chain.

Top IoT Forecasts for CIOs to Recognize

As a smart technology, the Internet of Things is going to change the landscape of the digital world. The top IoT forecasts for the years to come are mentioned below:

# AI-based IoT data analysis: With IoT being adopted as a frontline technology by most organizations, there will be a need to gather, store, process, and analyze huge amounts of data generated by it. This is where AI-based data analysis will take over from traditional analysis wherein data mined by IoT devices will be analyzed for known patterns to draw insights about various aspects of an organization. AI is going to be applied to a host of IoT-generated data in the form of still images, video, speech, text, and network traffic activities. This should drive the CIOs of business enterprises to implement the necessary skills and tools to leverage AI in their IoT testing approach.

# IoT with legal, social, and ethical dimensions: With the increased adoption of IoT across business segments, a wide range of social, ethical, and legal issues may come to the fore. These may include privacy, regulatory compliance, algorithmic bias, and ownership of data, among others. In fact, the success of any IoT solution should not be based on its technical prowess or effectiveness alone, but on social acceptability as well. Hence, CIOs should review their corporate strategy, IoT and AI systems, and key algorithms by external agencies for any potential bias. In doing so, they may include external IoT testing services to not only validate the technical aspects of such systems but their social, ethical, and legal dimensions as well.

# Data broking and infonomics: According to a Gartner survey, businesses are going to include the buying and selling of IoT data as an essential part of their strategy. As per the theory of infonomics, the monetization of IoT data will be treated as a strategic asset by businesses and included in their accounts. CIOs should educate their staff on the opportunities and risks pertaining to data broking and set the appropriate IT policies, including incorporating mandatory IoT testing in the value chain.

# Transition from Intelligent Edge to Intelligent Mesh: The transition from cloud to edge architectures in the IoT space is underway and is likely to give way to a more unstructured architecture in the form of a dynamic mesh. The mesh architectures will lead to more intelligent, responsive, and flexible IoT systems, but with additional complexities. As a result, CIOs must prepare their organisations for the impact of mesh architectures on IoT systems. Consequently, the focus of the Internet of Things QA testing should be to ensure every aspect of the IoT and mesh architecture performs as desired.

# IoT Governance: With the expansion of the IoT space, a proper setup for governance, including an IoT testing framework, should be instituted. This is to ensure appropriate behavior in the generation, storage, deletion, and usage of IoT-related data. IoT governance would entail device audits, control of devices, firmware updates, and the usage of information delivered, among others. CIOs must educate their organizations on issues related to IoT governance.

Conclusion 

The Internet of Things will continue to expand and play an important role for business enterprises in areas such as data mining, analysis, and management, decision-making, privacy, security, and others. CIOs must make their enteprises ready to leverage the opportunities offered by the IoT as well as set up proper architectures, including IoT security testing, to mitigate any associated risks.

The Internet of Things is one of the technologies making yesterday’s science fiction the reality of today. It will act as a force multiplier for digitization and can potentially transform the world into a smart one - smart cities, smart vehicles, smart manufacturing, smart homes, and many others. According to IDC, spending on IoT by businesses and other entities is going to reach $1 trillion in 2022. Further, out of the projected connected devices of 29 billion by 2022, around 18 billion are expected to be related to IoT. And the data generated by these devices will be to the tune of 73.1 zettabytes by 2025.

In other words, ignoring the penetration of IoT across domains and not investing in its vast sweep could be detrimental to the competitiveness of business enterprises in the future. Even though the IoT will continue on its upward trajectory in use cases and device numbers, enterprises should take into account the challenges related to interoperability and security. Let us discuss the top IoT predictions that IoT testing services, or for that matter, the CIOs of enterprises, should acknowledge and incorporate in their value chain.

Top IoT Forecasts for CIOs to Recognize

As a smart technology, the Internet of Things is going to change the landscape of the digital world. The top IoT forecasts for the years to come are mentioned below:

# AI-based IoT data analysis: With IoT being adopted as a frontline technology by most organizations, there will be a need to gather, store, process, and analyze huge amounts of data generated by it. This is where AI-based data analysis will take over from traditional analysis wherein data mined by IoT devices will be analyzed for known patterns to draw insights about various aspects of an organization. AI is going to be applied to a host of IoT-generated data in the form of still images, video, speech, text, and network traffic activities. This should drive the CIOs of business enterprises to implement the necessary skills and tools to leverage AI in their IoT testing approach.

# IoT with legal, social, and ethical dimensions: With the increased adoption of IoT across business segments, a wide range of social, ethical, and legal issues may come to the fore. These may include privacy, regulatory compliance, algorithmic bias, and ownership of data, among others. In fact, the success of any IoT solution should not be based on its technical prowess or effectiveness alone, but on social acceptability as well. Hence, CIOs should review their corporate strategy, IoT and AI systems, and key algorithms by external agencies for any potential bias. In doing so, they may include external IoT testing services to not only validate the technical aspects of such systems but their social, ethical, and legal dimensions as well.

# Data broking and infonomics: According to a Gartner survey, businesses are going to include the buying and selling of IoT data as an essential part of their strategy. As per the theory of infonomics, the monetization of IoT data will be treated as a strategic asset by businesses and included in their accounts. CIOs should educate their staff on the opportunities and risks pertaining to data broking and set the appropriate IT policies, including incorporating mandatory IoT testing in the value chain.

# Transition from Intelligent Edge to Intelligent Mesh: The transition from cloud to edge architectures in the IoT space is underway and is likely to give way to a more unstructured architecture in the form of a dynamic mesh. The mesh architectures will lead to more intelligent, responsive, and flexible IoT systems, but with additional complexities. As a result, CIOs must prepare their organisations for the impact of mesh architectures on IoT systems. Consequently, the focus of the Internet of Things QA testing should be to ensure every aspect of the IoT and mesh architecture performs as desired.

# IoT Governance: With the expansion of the IoT space, a proper setup for governance, including an IoT testing framework, should be instituted. This is to ensure appropriate behavior in the generation, storage, deletion, and usage of IoT-related data. IoT governance would entail device audits, control of devices, firmware updates, and the usage of information delivered, among others. CIOs must educate their organizations on issues related to IoT governance.

Conclusion 

The Internet of Things will continue to expand and play an important role for business enterprises in areas such as data mining, analysis, and management, decision-making, privacy, security, and others. CIOs must make their enteprises ready to leverage the opportunities offered by the IoT as well as set up proper architectures, including IoT security testing, to mitigate any associated risks.

There have been various innovations that have caused a stir in the healthcare business. As we have Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Augmented Reality technologies. As a result, you see their applications in every field or business, however, some of them are just overhyped or gimmicks.

However, the Internet of Things (IoT) is the most thriving technology, and IoT in healthcare has brought in a plethora of applications that are more than simply gimmicks and are actually pretty beneficial. Aside from the healthcare industry, there is a high need for IoT developers in general. Businesses in a variety of industries, including healthcare, are investing heavily in IoT app development. Let's take a look at how IoT is progressing in the healthcare business.

The benefits of IoT in healthcare are:

1) Simultaneous Reporting and Monitoring

Real-time monitoring through linked devices has the potential to save a million lives in the case of a medical emergency such as heart failure, diabetes, asthma attacks, and so on. Connected devices can acquire relevant medical and health-related data by monitoring the state in real-time using a smart medical gadget connected to a smartphone app.

 The linked IoT gadget captures and transmits health data such as blood pressure, oxygen, and blood sugar levels, as well as weight and ECGs. The data is kept in the cloud and can be shared with an authorized individual according to the sharing access authorization.

 Furthermore, the mentioned individual may be a physician, an insurance company, a participating health firm, or an external consultant, and it will allow them to check into the situation.

2)  Data Assortment and Analysis

Managing a large volume of data is not as simple as it seems for healthcare practitioners. Data acquired in real-time by IoT-enabled mobile devices may be evaluated and separated using IoT-powered mobility solutions.

This will lower the amount of raw data collected while also enabling crucial healthcare analytics and data-driven insights, which will eventually reduce mistakes and speed up decision-making.

3.)Tracking and Alerts

In life-threatening situations, real-time tracking and alerts can be a lifesaver by protecting a crucial patient's health with continual notifications and real-time alerts for proper monitoring, analysis, and diagnosis. IoT-powered healthcare mobility solutions provide real-time tracking, alerting, and monitoring.

This allows for hands-on treatments, more precision, and appropriate intervention by doctors, thereby enhancing the overall patient care delivery results.

4.) Remote Medical Assistance

In the case of an emergency, users may use smart smartphone applications to call a doctor who is thousands of kilometers away. With mobility solutions in healthcare, doctors may check on patients and diagnose illnesses while they are on the road.

Furthermore, various IoT-based healthcare delivery chains are planning to construct machines that may administer medications based on a patient's prescription and ailment-related data available via connected devices. IoT will improve hospital patient care. As a result, people's healthcare costs will be reduced.

What are the challenges of IoT in healthcare?

1) Data Security and Privacy:

Data Security and Privacy are two of the most serious concerns that IoT faces. IoT-enabled mobile devices collect data in real-time, however, the majority of them do not follow data protocols and standards.

There is a great deal of uncertainty around data ownership and regulation. As a result, data held within IoT-enabled devices are vulnerable to data theft, making the data more vulnerable to hackers who can hack into the system and jeopardize sensitive health information.

Fraudulent health claims and the production of phony IDs for purchasing and selling pharmaceuticals are two instances of how IoT device data is being misused.

2) Data Overload and Accuracy:

It is difficult to total information for essential bits of knowledge and inquiry due to the inconsistency of information and correspondence protocols. IoT collects information in large quantities, and for proper information inquiry, the information should be isolated in parts without overburdening and with accurate accuracy for better results. Furthermore, overburdening of information may have an effect on the dynamic cycle in the accommodation area in the long term.

3) Cost

This point is probably not surprising to you. Costs are one of the most significant challenges when considering IoT application development for medical services flexible setups. In any event, the costs are well worth the effort if the IoT implementation addresses a genuine need.

While establishing an IoT application will cost you a lot of money and assets, the benefits will be significant when your company saves time and labor, all while further expanding the business processes, providing additional income streams, and opening up more business opportunities through IoT.

Applications of IoT in healthcare

The growth of IoT is fascinating for everyone because of its diverse range of applications in numerous industries. It has numerous applications in healthcare. Here are some notable Internet of Things (IoT) applications in healthcare: 

IoT applications in healthcare are intended not just for healthcare facilities, but also for patients! In a nutshell, IoT in healthcare accomplishes the following tasks:

• reducing the length of time people have to wait at the emergency department
• Keeping track of patients, employees, and inventory
• Improving Drug Management
• ensuring crucial hardware availability

IoT has also offered a number of wearables and devices that have made patients' lives easier. These are the gadgets listed below.

Wearables:

Nowadays, wearables are Bluetooth-enabled, allowing them to connect with your smartphone.

It gives you the ability to filter, equalize, and layer real-world sounds. Doppler Labs is the best illustration of this.

Ingestible sensors:

Ingestible sensors are truly a miracle of contemporary science. These are pill-sized sensors that monitor the medicine in our bodies and alert us if any anomalies are detected.

These sensors can aid diabetic patients by reducing symptoms and providing an early warning of significant health risks. One such example is Proteus Digital Health.

Moodables:

Moodables are mood-enhancing items that help us feel better throughout the day. It may seem like science fiction, but it's not that far off. Thync and Halo Neurosciences have already begun working on it and have made significant progress. Moodables are head-mounted wearables that deliver low-intensity electricity to the brain, therefore elevating our mood.

Computer Vision Technology:

PC Vision Technology, in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence, has resulted in drone innovation, which intends to replicate visual understanding in order to empower dynamic in view of it.

Drones like Skydio employ PC vision technologies to detect obstacles and navigate around them. This invention has also greatly aided externally disadvantaged folks in exploring effectively.

IoT-fueled gadgets lessen a significant part of the manual work. For example, a specialist needs to utilize IoT gadgets during patient graphing. Here, IoT sensors can gauge a wide range of od information, for example, circulatory strain, internal heat level, and so forth, and diagram everything into an application associated with estimation gadgets through IoT.

Furthermore, it makes the patient's information promptly available for audit. Such an IoT application could set aside to 15 hours/seven day stretch of a specialist's manual outlining.

Automation has become the buzzword these days, with business enterprises going about adopting newer technologies to be competitive and profitable. The Internet of Things, or IoT, is one such technology that has the potential to transform the way we perceive and act upon things - such as driving a car using smart IoT technology. The technology has been adopted on a large scale, especially in industrial applications, as a means to digitally transform processes and derive a host of benefits. These include reducing effort and cost, achieving speed, accuracy, higher productivity, and efficiency. The growing fascination for such devices is driving the market crazy with a valuation of $520 billion.  Furthermore, IoT technology is expected to receive up to $1 trillion in investments by 2022 (Source: research.aimultiple.com).

All said and done, the downside to the breakneck speed at which IoT is being adopted across the board is the neglect of security considerations. Business enterprises, in their zeal to adopt IoT technology to drive digital transformation, do not always give the security of such devices and the network on which they operate enough attention. This leaves these devices with vulnerabilities, which have the potential to be exploited by cybercriminals to cause data breaches with dire consequences for all stakeholders. Let us understand the IoT and how to strengthen its security.

Understanding IoT 

The Internet of Things comprises everyday devices that are interconnected through the internet or other wireless networks and can be controlled remotely. Everyday devices are fitted with sensors and microchips that can send or receive data over the internet. This creates the possibility of these devices being controlled remotely. The use of IoT in physical areas like homes, cars, offices, and even cities has a transformational effect in terms of turning them smart. For instance, your alarm clock can read the calendar and sets itself up to buzz at the right time.

Why is IoT security important? 

The world is poised to move into a “smart” ecosystem where automation, in all likelihood, is going to change our lives for the better. However, given that the internet or any wireless network is the carrier for IoT “signals”, cybercriminals can hack into the devices or networks and cause havoc. For instance, hackers can penetrate the IoT network of any company to cause system downtime or spy on homeowners to garner crucial information. Since billions of devices are connected to the IoT network, it is important to develop and comply with security standards to prevent tampering or breaches. Let us understand how IoT security testing can help in establishing such a secure ecosystem.

Protecting IoT devices and networks from cyber attacks

As companies develop new products with IoT capabilities, consumers are simply lapping them up. However, this increases the possibility of cyber-attacks on such devices. Let us understand how the Internet of Things QA testing for security can prevent such attacks.

IoT penetration testing: In this type of IoT testing methodology, the QA testers try to penetrate the IoT network and devices by exploiting the inherent vulnerabilities with full knowledge of the management. With IoT penetration testing, QA testers check the security of such devices and find out the vulnerabilities as they continue to operate in the real world. It helps stakeholders understand the types of vulnerabilities or glitches existing in the IoT system and how they can be exploited by real threat actors. After knowing the vulnerabilities through IoT security testing, the loopholes are plugged, thereby strengthening the security of the IoT system and making it virtually impregnable.

Threat modeling: This IoT testing approach helps determine the threat model for the IoT system and how it can be breached. For instance, if an IoT-enabled camera is installed to monitor a house or spy on people within a specific distance, it can be breached by a hacker to gain access to the images captured by the camera. With threat modeling, the vulnerability that allowed the hacker to gain access to the camera is eliminated.

Firmware analysis: Firmware is a type of software that is used in embedded devices like sensors to execute a dedicated function. It can be found on devices such as routers, smart appliances, or medical devices. As with any other software, firmware can contain vulnerabilities or bugs that can be exploited by cybercriminals. Firmware analysis is a type of IoT testing approach that looks for security issues such as buffer overflows, backdoors, and others.

Best practices to secure the IoT devices or systems

No matter how robust the security of IoT systems is, if the people operating the devices are not thorough with the security protocols, hackers can gain entry into the systems. The best practices to be followed to keep the IoT systems secure are listed below:

• Change default credentials frequently and use strong passwords
• Implement a VPN with strong encryption to transmit and store data
• Perform IoT security testing frequently
• Change default router settings
• Disconnect devices when not in use
• Do not use Universal Plug and Play
• Update firmware regularly

Conclusion  

With the rapid growth of IoT systems, businesses should turn their focus to securing these devices from any unauthorized access. They should be thoroughly assessed to identify and mitigate any security vulnerabilities in the code. Even though IoT technology has the potential to transform our lives for the better, it is critical to understand that it can have security risks as well. It is only by implementing IoT device testing solutions in the value chain that businesses can ensure the protection of data from falling into the wrong hands.  

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

In the age of hyper-connectivity, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology has provided countless innovators the opportunity to build software and hardware for different purposes — from medical smart devices and manufacturing to smart cities and homes. 

According to Statista, 15.9 billion connected devices will be connected worldwide by 2030. The global IoT spending will reach $1.1 trillion the same year. However, the growing number of IoT apps has also increased the amount spent by businesses to recall defective IoT devices.

You see, developing an IoT device is the only step towards ensuring its longevity. It is also essential to conduct proper QA testing to ensure the IoT software is strong enough to withstand security threats, performance malfunction, and connectivity issues. 

Your IoT device should work collaboratively and deliver value to the business as intended at the end of the day. In this article, we will discuss the definition, benefits, process, and types of IoT testing. But first, let us start with the basics: 

What is IoT testing? 

The general IoT network connectivity comprises four core layers, including the physical layer (sensors and controllers), network layer (gateways and communication units), data management layer (local or cloud services at the backend), and the application layer (software for user interaction). 

Since data is heavily transmitted from one object to another over the Internet in the ecosystem, it is vital to verify that your electronic devices can exchange sensitive information easily before the market launch and throughout their lifecycle. 

That is why all successful IoT businesses rely on automation, penetration, and performance testing tools to spot any defect in the IoT device before it reaches the hands of end customers.  

IoT testing is the practice of conducting QA tests to validate the performance, minimize security issues, and boost the functionality of an IoT device. It broadly revolves around device networks, operating systems, security, analytics, platforms, and standards. 

QA testers trace and associate software releases and cycles, test cases and scripts, look for defects, test executions, and gather other requirements. The complexity and variability of IoT testing make planning a crucial aspect of the process. 

The significant benefits of IoT testing 

QA engineers and developers can provide better  service offerings by employing IoT automation testing in their general practices with the right plan and purpose in place. These are the benefits that they can plan to see with IoT testing: 

1. Faster time-to-market 

IoT testing ensures that businesses can launch their safe and approved IoT products in the market by leveraging automation. 

2. Business future-proofing 

IoT testing offers an integrated approach for validating IoT platforms' practical and non-functional testing requirements. The practice future-proofs the business by enabling higher interoperability and security with performance testing tools. In the end, you can deliver safer solutions and, therefore, be a better prospect for consumers. 

3. New business opportunities 

Testing the IoT solutions speeds up innovation with less risk and without delaying the response time or using too many resources. With set testing processes, businesses can experiment much more freely with IoT products in the market with minimal human intervention. 

IoT testing framework 

Given the complexity of IoT solutions, check all layers separately, verify the entire system's operation, and determine the interoperability level of several layers. Please refer to a robust testing framework to ensure the testing is done properly across all software versions. Some fundamental features that should be a part of the framework are listed below: 

1. Performance testing 

It is essential to strategically approach the development and implementation of an IoT testing plan. That is why measure the IoT app's performance metrics such as throughput, CPU utilization, latency, and so on. Validate the stability of the entire app's functioning under changing operational and network conditions such as intermittent failures. 

2. Security testing 

Testing how safe and secure an IoT app functions is paramount. After all, many users access a massive amount of data all the time. You must, therefore, have data privacy controls and validate users via authentication as a part of your security testing processes. 

3. Compatibility testing 

Multiple devices are connected in a typical IoT ecosystem with different software and hardware configurations. Please ensure your IoT product is highly compatible with different tools and platforms for its smooth functioning. 

Use data recorders, for instance, to check out how the recorded data plays across different device end-points automatically and freely. 

4. Device interoperability 

IoT testing ensures that the end customers have a state-of-the-art user experience across multiple channels such as web apps and mobile devices. 

Visualize the required use cases and arrange the testing process. For instance, all layers should be checked for security and functioning separately. Then deploy APIs to review the application and data management layers. Test the physical and network layers for compatibility. 

Seven types of testing tools 

To execute a wide range of IoT tests at the staging phase, use the right automation, visualization, simulation, and measurement tools. Here are the different IoT testing tools that can make a ton of difference to how you approach the process: 

1. Device or protocol simulators 

As the name suggests, these IoT testing tools are often simulated in large numbers and configured to map the required real-time scenarios. The simulators are standards-compliant and support numerous IoT protocols in format testing processes. 

2. Record and playback test automation tools 

These tools are multi-purpose as QA testing teams find them useful in many test scenarios. The assessment involves recording a user's actions and matching objects behind the scenes to identify which units of code are routinely used and how. In this type of testing, a coded test script file is generated, which the QA engineers replay as is. 

3. Mobile testing tools 

These IoT testing tools offer automated functional mobile testing, replicating customer experience and ensuring the IoT app works as expected. 

4. API testing tools 

Integrate an automated API testing tool with your continuous integration pipeline for improving your IoT app's codebase quality. Detect bugs early on in the IoT app development lifecycle with end-user application testing. 

5. Visualization tools 

The real-time validation of the IoT application is difficult and time-consuming. Introducing IoT data visualization tools can help finish the development process faster with minimal dependence in the real-time environment. 

That is because they initiate the cost-friendly and timely execution of compatibility tests without making any hefty investments in the hardware, browsers, platform services, operating systems, and so on. 

6. Automated deployment tools 

Automation testing tools help create virtual machines on the cloud or on-premise for rapidly commissioning managed services and configuring and deploying customized applications and services. Improve speed, productivity, and effectiveness of quality over execution. 

7. Security testing tools 

These can be categorized as static code analysis, threat modeling, and run-time threat-inducing. Unearth vulnerabilities, prioritize them, and offer recommendations on how to fix them with the help of security testing tools. 

The ultimate IoT testing process 

An IoT setup deploys various software testing approaches that are slightly different from the regular QA practices for validating IoT apps. Here is what a typical IoT testing process looks like: 

1. Lay the groundwork with the help of QA engineers 

Assign a QA testing team while the specifications for the IoT application are being decided. Having them on board at the beginning will help them choose how often the IoT development team will need to collaborate with the QA engineers to prioritize relevant test cases, enable regressing testing, and efficiently manage defects. 

They will also confirm the IoT testing risks and design an overall risk mitigation plan for your IoT app development project. Taking the QA team's help ensures proper test automation frameworks and configuration to address quality issues and whatnot. 

2. Prepare for IoT app testing 

Even when the QA team has designed a comprehensive testing strategy, they are still required to regularly revise and update the test artifacts. It would help if you also had a balanced combination of manual and automated testing to make sure the IoT app is error-free and to avoid data- and time-intensive repetitive test cases execution. 

Prepare for conducting different types of testing, including conducting usability testing, simulating sensors, verifying data integrity, determining the end-to-end workflows of the entire IoT application, and flawless communication between various IoT app components with their tech stack compatibility. 

3. Select a vendor for outsourced IoT testing 

If you do not wish to carry out the function in-house, consider outsourcing as it proves to be more cost-effective than hiring a full-time staff. Plus, you have access to a greater talent pool and technological expertise. IoT testing becomes hassle-free. To select a fitting vendor of automation testing tools, please do the following: 

• Shortlist vendors with successful IoT testing projects in your sector. 

• Create a comprehensive request for proposal which includes your IoT solution's specific requirements. 

• Consider their existing tech stack and human resources, so you do not get stuck in the middle of running tests. 

• Understand their approach to an IoT testing strategy, testing toolkit, the planned test automation, and so on. 

4. Launch your IoT tests 

Once you have figured out your resources, it is time to design test cases and build test scripts. Check the end-to-end functioning of the IoT product by creating an IoT test lab with the help of service visualization tools. These labs serve as the digital portfolio for experimenting and simulating real-time experiences that fuel more innovative automation testing tools. 

Over to you 

IoT solutions can be challenging to develop, manage and test given the multiple components and interactions between them. It is, therefore, necessary to monitor the performance of the app more closely with automation testing tools. A thorough testing process ensures a quality IoT product and high customer satisfaction. So, how do you plan to get started with IoT testing?

• Univariate: considering a single variable
• Multivariate: considering multiple variables

 

 

 

Is it not amazing how we all started living in a hyperconnected world without even realizing it? It all started with internet access on smartphones. Now we have digital assistants that can turn on the lights and set the preferred temperature at home even before we arrive. We can work, have fun, and socialize through our phones and connected devices. Now the cities are embracing advanced technology to inter-connect various functions and improve the usage of infrastructure, energy, utilities and public services to elevate the quality of living. This digital phenomenon that we are experiencing in our day to day lives is the Internet of Things (IoT).

What is IoT?

Internet of things is popularly known as IoT. IoT refers to a hyperconnected digital ecosystem where human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction is enabled through the internet network. The machines, humans, objects are allotted Unique Identifiers (UIDs) through which they can interact, perform within the digital ecosystem.

For example, a sensor installed in the farm may alert the farmer when soil moisture is not within the normal range or anything else that requires the farmer’s urgent attention. Similarly, a chip in the car’s tire may alert the driver when the pressure is low. This may save him from a flat tire. Or it can be as simple as your refrigerator telling you to bring milk home when you run out of milk.

In the IoT universe, everything is assigned an Internet Protocol (IP) address. This IP enables them to communicate and transfer data they acquire from their surroundings using an IoT gateway or devices.

What Does the Future Look Like?

A projection by Statista suggests that the market of IoT will breach the benchmark of 1 trillion USD in 2030. It indicates more than 100% growth just within a decade. The study further suggests that the number of IoT connected devices worldwide will triple during this period. IoT technology and devices will be consumed in almost all industry verticals and consumer markets.

Statista forecasts that by 2030, the world will have more than 8 billion IoT devices. IT will be mainly used in electricity, gas, steam, AC, water supply, waste management, retail, wholesale, transportation and storage and government functioning. Currently, smartphones are the most used devices for IoT, but the future will see several innovative devices that will transform the experience of living.

IoT will usher in an era of connected vehicles, payment terminals and automation that will reduce human intervention in the day-to-day process and elevate the quality of life by creating an efficiently connected world.

How will IoT Impact Businesses?

An assessment from GlobalData’s Thematic Research indicates that giants like Tesla, Amazon, Qualcomm, Samsung have realized the importance of IoT way before the others and they are best positioned to take optimum advantage of this technology especially in the automotive sector.

Statista’s report suggests that businesses across the globe are embracing IoT to increase cyber security, reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. In 2019 only, 120 billion USD were spent on IT security. Worldwide governments have also increased their spending after smart city initiatives and IoT technology.

These developments indicate that IoT is a major emerging trend. The companies that will match steps with the changing trends will have a competitive advantage over others. If you own a business, the time to look for an IoT solution company is NOW.

What to Expect?

• A brighter, environment-friendly future:

While reducing human intervention and providing enhanced personal autonomy, IoT companies are also working towards finding sustainable, environment-friendly solutions. Several IoT companies are working towards creating a future with minimized waste and optimized use of energy. This is done by predicting maintenance activity, reducing downtime and finding ways to reuse and recycle. In smart cities, waste management is a segment wherein IoT is greatly contributing.

• Better security:

From your baby monitor to your digital locker to your car, everything will be connected through IoT devices for an enhanced living experience and better security. At present, many IoT devices such as wearables do not have strong security measures in place. The more connected world is also prone to cyber attacks from many directions. The IoT companies are actively working to enhance the safety and security of IoT devices. This suggests that in near future, we will be living in a more secure digitally interconnected world.

• Confluence of technologies:

IoT connects people, devices, systems but when it is combined with other emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), it can work wonders. For example, AI can provide valuable insights from the data collected by IoT devices. Without it, the data is of no use. The tech companies are merging IoT with various technologies like AI, ML (Machine Learning) to get actionable insights to derive optimum benefits.  

• Decentralized network:

More connected devices also mean more pressure on the cloud infrastructure and rising maintenance costs. Realizing this emerging challenge, tech companies have already started looking for alternatives to a centralized network to reduce dependency on a single network. Experts believe that the blockchain approach will prove to be a game-changer.

In a nutshell, IoT is a prominent, inescapable technology trend that is going to shape the way we live and work. If you want to be a frontrunner, the sooner you embrace it, the better.

By Bee Hayes-Thakore

Google has been advancing their investment in how tamper-resistant secure hardware modules can protect not only Android and its functionality, but also protect third-party apps and secure sensitive transactions. The latest android smartphone device features enable tamper-resistant key storage for Android Apps using StrongBox. StrongBox is an implementation of the hardware-backed Keystore that resides in a hardware security module.

To accelerate adoption of new Android use cases with stronger security, Google announced the formation of the Android Ready SE Alliance. Secure Element (SE) vendors are joining hands with Google to create a set of open-source, validated, and ready-to-use SE Applets. On March 25th, Google launched the General Availability (GA) version of StrongBox for SE.

Hardware based security modules are becoming a mainstay of the mobile world. Juniper Research’s latest eSIM research, eSIMs: Sector Analysis, Emerging Opportunities & Market Forecasts 2021-2025, independently assessed eSIM adoption and demand in the consumer sector, industrial sector, and public sector, and predicts that the consumer sector will account for 94% of global eSIM installations by 2025. It anticipates that established adoption of eSIM frameworks from consumer device vendors such as Google, will accelerate the growth of eSIMs in consumer devices ahead of the industrial and public sectors.

Consumer sector will account for 94% of global eSIM installations by 2025

Juniper Research, 2021.

Expanding the secure architecture of trust to consumer wearables, smart TV and smart car

What’s more? A major development is that now this is not just for smartphones and tablets, but also applicable to WearOS, Android Auto Embedded and Android TV. These less traditional form factors have huge potential beyond being purely companion devices to smartphones or tablets. With the power, size and performance benefits offered by Kigen’s iSIM OS, OEMs and chipset vendors can consider the full scope of the vast Android ecosystem to deliver new services.

This means new secure services and innovations around:

🔐 Digital keys (car, home, office)

🛂 Mobile Driver’s License (mDL), National ID, ePassports

🏧 eMoney solutions (for example, Wallet)

How is Kigen supporting Google’s Android Ready SE Alliance?

The alliance was created to make discrete tamper resistant hardware backed security the lowest common denominator for the Android ecosystem. A major goal of this alliance is to enable a consistent, interoperable, and demonstrably secure applets across the Android ecosystem.

Kigen believes that enabling the broadest choice and interoperability is fundamental to the architecture of digital trust. Our secure, standards-compliant eSIM and iSIM OS, and secure personalization services are available to all chipset or device partners in the Android Ready SE Alliance to leverage the benefits of iSIM for customer-centric innovations for billions of Android users quickly.

Vincent Korstanje, CEO of Kigen

Kigen’s support for the Android Ready SE Alliance will allow our industry partners to easily leapfrog to the enhanced security and power efficiency benefits of iSIM technology or choose a seamless transition from embedded SIM so they can focus on their innovation.

We are delighted to partner with Kigen to further strengthen the security of Android through StrongBox via Secure Element (SE). We look forward to widespread adoption by our OEM partners and developers and the entire Android ecosystem.

Sudhi Herle, Director of Android Platform Security 

In the near term, the Google team is prioritizing and delivering the following Applets in conjunction with corresponding Android feature releases:

• Mobile driver’s license and Identity Credentials
• Digital car keys

Kigen brings the ability to bridge the physical embedded security hardware to a fully integrated form factor. Our Kigen standards-compliant eSIM OS (version 2.2. eUICC OS) is available to support chipsets and device makers now. This announcement is a start to what will bring a whole host of new and exciting trusted services offering better experience for users on Android.

Kigen’s eSIM (eUICC) OS brings

The smallest operating system, allowing OEMs to select compact, cost-effective hardware to run it on.

Kigen OS offers the highest level of logical security when employed on any SIM form factor, including a secure enclave.

On top of Kigen OS, we have a broad portfolio of Java Card™ Applets to support your needs for the Android SE Ready Alliance.

Kigen’s Integrated SIM or iSIM (iUICC) OS further this advantage

Integrated at the heart of the device and securely personalized, iSIM brings significant size and battery life benefits to cellular Iot devices. iSIM can act as a root of trust for payment, identity, and critical infrastructure applications

Kigen’s iSIM is flexible enough to support dual sim capability through a single profile or remote SIM provisioning mechanisms with the latter enabling out-of-the-box connectivity, secure and remote profile management.

For smartphones, set top boxes, android auto applications, auto car display, Chromecast or Google Assistant enabled devices, iSIM can offer significant benefits to incorporate Artificial intelligence at the edge.

Kigen’s secure personalization services to support fast adoption

SIM vendors have in-house capabilities for data generation but the eSIM and iSIM value chains redistribute many roles and responsibilities among new stakeholders for the personalization of operator credentials along different stages of production or over-the-air when devices are deployed.

Kigen can offer data generation as a service to vendors new to the ecosystem.

Partner with us to provide cellular chipset and module makers with the strongest security, performance for integrated SIM leading to accelerate these new use cases.

Security considerations for eSIM and iSIM enabled secure connected services

Designing a secure connected product requires considerable thought and planning and there really is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. How security should be implemented draws upon a multitude of factors, including:

• What data is being stored or transmitted between the device and other connected apps?
• Are there regulatory requirements for the device? (i.e. PCI DSS, HIPAA, FDA, etc.)
• What are the hardware or design limitations that will affect security implementation?
• Will the devices be manufactured in a site accredited by all of the necessary industry bodies?
• What is the expected lifespan of the device?

End-to-end ecosystem and services thinking needs to be a design consideration from the very early stage especially when considering the strain on battery consumption in devices such as wearables, smart watches and fitness devices as well as portable devices that are part of the connected consumer vehicles.

Originally posted here.

The past several years have seen a huge growth in the number of companies offering IoT Platforms. The market research firm IoT Analytics reported 613 companies offering IoT platforms in 2021! This is a mind-blowing number. The IoT platforms vary widely in capabilities but typically focus on one or more of the building blocks of IoT systems – physical devices, internet connectivity, and digital services. In one way or another, they provide software (or in some cases hardware too) that gives companies a head-start when building IoT systems. There are so many companies offering platforms that it is nearly impossible to keep up with all of them.

 Charting the right path, avoiding pitfalls, maximizing your success.

If you are getting into IoT and not familiar with IoT platforms, you might be asking yourself questions like –  What makes up an IoT platform? What advantages could they have for my company? How do I select an IoT platform? 

Let’s tackle these questions one by one. 

What makes up an IoT platform?
 

Features

True IoT platforms typically provide the following features:

• Digital services running in the cloud that physical devices connect to
• Software that runs on devices that communicates with the digital services
• A framework or schema for data messaging and remote command & control of devices
• Security infrastructure to handle device registration, authentication, security credential management
• Tools and methods for updating device firmware over-the-air (OTA)
• Web dashboards for viewing the state of devices and interacting with the system

IoT  platforms may or may not also provide other features, including:

• Analytics tools and dashboards
• Digital twins or shadows
• Application deployment orchestration
• Machine learning orchestration
• Rules engines
• Fleet management tools
• Integrations to other services
• Gateway or hub support for bridging devices to the cloud
• Cellular network plans for devices
• Web or mobile application interfaces and templates

Example Elements of an IoT Platform

Types of IoT Platforms

IoT platforms are not all the same. Their features and target use-cases vary a lot. However, at a high level, they can be grouped into two main categories.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) – Offered by the big cloud service providers

PaaS platforms provide building blocks to do most things an IoT system needs, but it is up to you to write the custom code that connects it all together. With a PaaS provider, you don’t have to worry about underlying server hardware, but you have to compose their services into a working architecture and manage the deployment of applications that use their services. This is more work but allows more flexibility and the opportunity to customize the system to your needs. Ongoing costs of a PaaS IoT platform are typically lower than a SaaS, but expertise is required to ensure correct usage patterns to avoid larger costs. The big cloud providers all offer PaaS IoT platforms. This includes Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Software as a Service (SaaS) – Offered by numerous software vendors, large and small

With a SaaS provider, you get access to use the software application they deploy and manage for you. Or you can license it and deploy it yourself. SaaS platforms typically provide some configurability and integrations with other systems. There is much less work on the cloud side as this is mostly taken care of for you. However, you are limited to the features that the IoT platform provider offers. You may need to invest more in bridging the platform to your other systems. Depending on your use case, a SaaS may provide more advanced features out-of-the-box than a PaaS. Ongoing costs are likely to be higher with SaaS IoT platforms. Examples of SaaS IoT platform providers include Pelion, Losant, Friendly Technologies, Software AG, Blynk, Particle, ThingsBoard, and Golioth.

What advantages could they have for my company?

Benefits of IoT Platforms – There are a lot.

The goal of IoT platforms is to provide a foundation for product-makers to build IoT solutions on top of.  IoT platforms take care of all the fundamental features that all solutions need (e.g. “the plumbing”), so you can focus on adding value with the differentiating features that you add on top. Users of IoT platforms get a huge benefit from economies of scale – especially if using the most popular platforms. This translates into improved security, more robust services, and lower costs. For these reasons, we always recommend using an IoT platform.

How do I select an IoT platform?

The Big Question – Should you use a PaaS or SaaS?

At SpinDance, we believe in lean and agile business principles. This usually translates into taking a staged approach and focusing on different priorities in each stage. IoT is a journey, not a destination. We have seen the most success when companies tackle each of their challenges in stages, don’t try to do too much too quickly, and don’t lock themselves into long-term decisions too early. Choosing whether to use a PaaS or Saas depends on the stage you are in along your IoT journey.

Our Answer – It depends on your stage in your IoT journey. 

If you are just starting on your IoT journey…

In the disconnected stage your main goals are to learn what technology can do for you, develop a vision for your new product or service with that knowledge, and evaluate your vision based on customer input. At this stage, you shouldn’t be worried too much about scale or efficiency. You need to nail down the problem you want to solve and the solution you propose to solve it with. Ash Maurya, entrepreneur and author of Running Lean, says that “Building a successful product is fundamentally about risk mitigation.” To evaluate and reduce your risk, you need to test your assumptions.

We often recommend building Proof of Concepts and Prototypes in this stage. These experiments are crucial to help you quickly validate the feasibility, desirability, and viability of your plans. They also help rally your organization and potential customers around new possibilities.

SaaS IoT platforms have their most advantage in this stage. They can help you get devices connected and data flowing quickly because they typically have more features ready out-of-the-box. However, since your knowledge about the future is limited at this stage, we recommend you avoid long-term commitments so you don’t get stuck with a solution that doesn’t work for you down the road.

 If you are working on your first connected product…

In the connecting stage, you should have some confidence in your problem-market fit and you should have a better idea of what benefits IoT can bring to your business. Now you need to build a system to deal with the rigors of production. You also need to adapt your organization to support your new product or service.

We recommend shifting your focus to creating robust experiences for your customers spanning across the physical devices and digital interfaces they interact with. You need to consider the other parts of the system such as mobile applications, web applications, database storage, operations dashboards, etc that you’ll need for your customers and your internal teams to interact with the system.

PaaS IoT platforms start to have a strong advantage in this stage. More often than not, we see the needs of the company outstretch the features provided by a SaaS. Therefore, there is a need to augment the capabilities of the SaaS platform or bridge it to your other systems. For example, if a SaaS IoT platform does not provide long-term data storage, you will need to create a bridge that pulls data from the platform’s service and puts it into a database that you control in the cloud. Maintaining and monitoring this bridge is non-trivial which may lead to you wanting to consolidate everything into your existing cloud. For reasons like this, we typically recommend PaaS platforms at this stage.

If you already have connected products out in the market…

The connected or accelerating stages are all about maximizing the benefit of IoT, taking advantage of the valuable data you are likely getting, and aligning your costs to revenue. You should be focused on scaling up your system while you improve your connected customer relationships and build up new processes and skills. These are not insignificant tasks. It takes in-house expertise. Your team needs to understand your systems, be able to improve efficiencies and optimize costs. You’ve got to get data to the right place when you need it, and it has to drive reliable actions across all your infrastructure.

PaaS IoT platforms offer the most advantage at this stage. You have more control of your systems and are not locked into a specific software platform. You have the ability to customize and have tighter integration with your existing systems. This lets you adapt and evolve to meet the needs of your customers over time.

Which production architecture works for you?

Considering the needs of your production system likely go beyond the needs of your prototypes and minimum viable product (MVP), it is best to think about what additional features you will need to augment the capabilities of your selected IoT platform. The diagrams below show the difference between augmenting a SaaS platform versus a PaaS platform.

An IoT System Built Around SaaS Platform

An IoT System Built on a PaaS Platform

What else should be considered when choosing an IoT Platform?

When selecting an IoT platform, you are also choosing an ecosystem to join. This has ramifications that go beyond just the platform. Consider the following questions:

• What device types are already supported / how easy is it to support the devices I need?
• How close does the platform fit my use-case?
• How easy is it to get started and use?
• What skills do I need on my team to utilize the platform?
• Will my team get the support we need to succeed?
• Is the service reliable / highly available / trustworthy?
• What additional features and services will I have to develop?
• What systems do I need to integrate with? How easy is that?
• What will my ongoing costs be for the IoT platform as well as other systems I need to maintain.
• What happens if I want to change to a different IoT Platform?
• Am I building the skills and knowledge we need inside my organization to succeed in the future?

Jumpstarting your IoT Systems with Starter Components

Building a system based on a PaaS platform offers a lot of flexibility and control. But you are faced with configuring and deploying your own applications to get your system running. There are a lot of reasons why you don’t want to create things from scratch. You need a head start. You need to follow good patterns and industry best practices. So, what should you do?

We believe that starter components, a.k.a. solution templates, solution implementations, etc, offer a great jumpstart to standing up a robust system. The big cloud companies know this and offer templates for various use-cases. These can be used in any stage of the  IoT Journey. For example, AWS has a Smart Product Solution solution implementation that features capabilities to connect devices, process and analyze telemetry data, etc within a scalable framework. A fundamentally great feature of this is that it is based on AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) which means it can be programmatically deployed in minutes. Microsoft Azure has similar solution examples that can also be deployed and tested relatively quickly.

Additionally, there are a lot of benefits from working with a solution provider that has experience with IoT systems and can offer good guidance and support. SpinDance recently collaborated with our partner TwistThink to build Auris Cloud, a set of customizable IoT components that capture our combined years of experience working on IoT systems. Auris components are customizable to meet the needs of many different types of use cases and are deployable on AWS. Things like security, performance, and scalability are baked into the system. Auris can be optimized for different performance and cost models, integrated with other systems, and deployed as an application that you control. We believe this approach offers a great trade-off between fully custom and off-the-shelf solutions.

Summary

At SpinDance, we don’t recommend you try to build an IoT system from scratch. There are great solutions available from both SaaS and PaaS providers. They offer massive benefits in enabling you to build secure and scalable IoT solutions. However, we recommend you consider your organization’s goals and the stage you are in before locking yourself into an IoT platform. Be sure to start with your customer needs and build backward. Prototype and get things right before scaling. A SaaS IoT platform can be great for building proof of concepts or prototyping but may not work for you long term. For maximum customization, flexibility, and tighter integration with your other cloud applications we recommend a PaaS IoT platform. And for the lowest risks and maximum benefits, we recommend using pre-built components that can be customized to your needs.

Experts believe that smart parking management systems aid you in generating more income. Let's find out!

It doesn't take rocket science to understand why consumers avoid brick and mortar shopping at all these days. Understand, parking issues have been a sole reason for people to avoid going to shopping malls. 

As customer behaviour changes, shopping centres have come under immense pressure to find car parking problems in their shopping malls. Every effort is made to improve and enhance the traditional shopping experience, ultimately driving the revenue. 

Every minute a customer spends looking for parking is one less minute they have to shop.

So let's get into why experts believe that the smart parking management system will cater best to your needs.

Smart Parking Booking System: The Need of an Hour

What does a smart parking management system mean?

A smart parking management system using IoT is simply a that incorporates IoT technologies. Technologies such as sensing devices identify which parking area is empty, and often these give you a real-time parking map.

What Are the Issues Faced by the Customers While Parking Their Vehicles? 

• Saturated Parking Spaces- The most significant problem today is the number of vehicles is rising, and the parking space remains the same. Thus, resulting in clogging. 

• Overpaying- Sometimes, drivers/ customers are unaware of the duration they will stay at a particular place. Therefore, they sometimes overpay the parking charges. 

• Environmental Impacts - Parking lots accumulate a lot of pollutants that do not get absorbed and hence flushed into the water bodies during rain. 

• On-street or Off-street parking- The customer does not get sufficient space in the mall's parking lot or their destined location. These again cause heavy traffic jams. 

• Insufficient use of existing parking space- People are always in a hurry, and thus they do sometimes lack patience. At times, they do not park properly. As a result, there is insufficient space for other vehicles to park.

So How Does a Smart Parking Management System Aid You?

The smart parking system with IoT works like a boon for your parking system. The problems in parking seem to be resolved with these parking problems. Here are the benefits of a smart parking management system.

• Won't it be great for customers to find a parking spot before they leave their house? Well, parking systems using IoTprovide you with these benefits. They can check and also book their parking lot before leaving their home.
• Once a customer enters the parking space, they are easily navigated to their allotted parking spot.
• The reduction in traffic, as the driver is clear about the designated location.
• One can get data to tell them the forecasted peak times and give frequent reports about the current situation.
• Stop paying extra dues; with smart parking, one can pay real-time payments and electronic payments, making a seamless experience.

As a result, this increases the value of customers' shopping trips. Moreover, their productivity also increases while maximizing their shopping experience and lowering their fuel cost.

Features of Smart Parking System

If you have thought of integrating a smart parking system into your enterprise, it's vital to update yourself with the necessary features to enhance the experience. 

• In-door Navigation
• Wallet Management
• Live Reports
• Automated Pass Management
• Penalty and Violation Management
• Revenue Analysis
• Zone Management
• Booking Management
• Car Counters
• Vehicle Identification 

A Glimpse of Challenges Faced During the Smart Parking Management System Project

Here is the list of problems faced through the implications of the smart parking project. 

The primary issue while implementing a smart parking management system is that many sensors have to be connected to the internet to get information for a single booking slot. You need to have an array of routers, and that seems a bit troublesome. 

However, all the sensors are internally connected and can work individually without being connected to the internet with the mesh connection. 

So, only a specific sensor is connected to the internet, passing the information to all other sensors. It works excellent as other routers don't need an internet connection. 

Secondly, what if the navigation shown to the users is inaccurate? Your customer can reach other locations, which can be a bit troublesome. 

With the proper implementation of a parking control system, you can keep the hardware when there are turns, leading to fewer misleads. Also, one should use pixel by pixel to draw a path between the hardware. This works as a perfect solution that would lead to bare minimum errors. 

Such minor technicalities are a boon for your automated parking management system. However, it would be best if you had experts who are well versed with these systems and can guide you perfectly for the proper implementation of the projects.

What Are the Components Used in the IoT Smart Parking System?

• A sensor is vital as it detects the presence of vehicles.
• A microcontroller that will aid you to process your data.
• A cloud platform for storing the data.
• A mobile application that would give you control over this process of smart parking. 

What Does the Future Hold?

The smart parking management system has begun to accelerate its demand. With the limited land resources, smart parking seems the only viable solution. 

Think for a while that it's impossible to create space for parking. Therefore, instead of thinking about making extra parking spaces, an effective technology-based solution works great for the situation. 

You can optimize the spaces available at their best. One should be careful about how you will implement these solutions.

Being a leading IoT application development company, we offer the best smart parking management solutions.

Our clients trusted us, and we have never failed them or ever will. For any guidance, you can connect with our executives and clarify your doubts.

FAQs

What Is the Purpose of a Smart Parking System? 

In layman terms, the purpose of smart parking systems is to reduce the time and hassle caused to people while parking their vehicles.

How Many Types of Parking Are There?

There are four types of parking; these are (i) Parallel Parking, (ii) Angled Parking, (iii) Perpendicular Parking & (iv) Double Parking.

How Does a Smart Parking System Work?

Smart parking is a cost-effective and most efficient way of giving real-time information to users. The sensors installed in the pavements detect space and notify the user. Thus, one can know the availability of the parking spaces.

What Are the Advantages of a Parking Management System? 

• Provides more protection.
• Easily managed.
• Cost-effective.
• Easy to maintain.
• Real-time information.
• Increased footfalls
• Less pollution
• Fewer traffic issues